Towelling fabric



April 1947. 'r. SUMNER TO'BLLING' FABRIC Filed June30, 1945 Patented Apr. 8, 1947 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE TOWELLING FABRIC Thomas Sumner, Salt Lake City, Utah Application June 30, 1945, Serial No. 602,479

5 Claims.

The present invention relates to improvements in towelling fabric, one object of'the invention being the provision of a towel, preferably of the Turkish or terry cloth type generally used as bath towels and in which the warp and weft threads are so disposed as to place the tensile strengths at certain places to insure a, longer life to the towel.

In order that the invention may be fully understood and its numerous advantages appreciated, attention'is invited to the accompanying drawing, in which the one figure is a plan view of a towel made according to and embodying this .invention.

Referring to the drawings, the numeral I designates the towel proper, made as usual with a looped surface, and known as a bath towel. Adjacent the selvages 2 and 3, a space 4 or5, paralleling the respectitve selvages and for a width of approximately four inches has its warp composed of 4 thread double twist yarn, that is from the selvage to the dotted line. The longitudinal spaces 6 and I have their warp threads composed of 3 threads double twist yarn, and as shown are between the dotted lines and the dot-and-dash lines, approximately four inches. The longitudinal spaces 8 and 9, between the dot-and-dash lines and the dash line, approximately four inches wide, are composed of warp threads of two thread double twist, so that the towelling for a distance of a proximately twelve inches from each selva'ge is reinforced, longitudinally and therefor is of great tensile strength for this distance along its sides and ends.

In order that the ends of the towel may also be reinforced and its tensile strength greatly increased at what may be termed the hand gripping portions thereof, as in using the towel in drying ones self after bathing, it is proposed to form the weft at the ends in a like manner to the sides, that is-for an approximate distance of twelve inches from each end, the threads forming the weft are of greater tensile strength.

In this instance, the end spaces l and H extending to the dotted line, is composed of 4 thread double twist yarn, while the spaces l2 and 13, between the dotted lines and the dot-and-dash lines has its weft threads 3 thread double twist yarn. The spaces l4 and l between the dot-anddash and dash lines are composed of 2 thread double twist yarn, and each space is approximately four inches wide.

Although it has been set forth that the various spaces of different weights and twists of yarn are here set forth as being approximately four 2 inches wide, it is evident that this may be more or less and certain of the spaces may be made wider than the other, as it maybe found-that the heavier threaded spaces may be'made wider and the other not so wide, as the case or circumstances may require. The main idea being that the towelling adjacent its various margins is to be re-inforced to such an extent that where the greatest wear occurs, the tensile strength is greatest.

In making this towelling, the warp threads are laid in the loom so that the center portion I6 is of its normal twist yarn, with the spaces to constitute the reinforcements provided in proportion with the heavier or stronger yarns as set forth. The loom is then set in motion so that the shuttles in the boxes carrying the weft yarns of the various weights are operated in the usual manner to weave the weft threads and the loops in with the warp threads, the shuttles being set so that the main body portion will be composed of the lighter or normal yarns, while the ends will receive the heavier yarns in the spaced relations as shown and described. However, there will be provided with the loom, a cutting device adjusted to sever the towelling into lengths and provide the serrated edges l1 and I8, which though here shown as greatly exaggerated, provide a nonravelling edge as by pinking that does not require the extra step of sewing, as is usual. I

From the description herein given, it is apparent that with a towel constructed in accordance with the present invention, that usual breaking of the warp and'weft threads due to excessive gripping and pulling by the user will be to a great extent prevented, but surely the life of the towel will'be enhanced, and the towels less liable to haveqthe portions thereof adjacent the selvage edges and its ends give away or break as is the trouble today with towels not reinforced at the points here indicated.

By using the staggered reinforcements as here in set forth there is no "boardy feeling to the towel, and its outside appearance is not affected, as thegraduated tensile strength employed at the vital parts of the towel permits a towel of the Turkish or terry cloth type to be made without exhibiting extra heavy portions where the reinforcements come.

Although this towelling relates more particularly to the Turkish and terry. cloth types, it is also apparent that the normal type can employ this idea with the result that the towels will withstand rougher treatment and last longer;

anaera that is towels embodying this invention will surely have greater life in use.

What is claimed is:

l. A woven towelling fabric consisting of warp and weft forming yarns, the threads adjacent the respective ends and sides being arranged to provide graduated increased strength in the towelling, the the greateststrength being adjacent all of the margins of the towelling.

2. A woven towelling fabric as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least three diiferent types of threads of both warp andweft constitute the portions of the towelling fabric adjacent all of its margins.

3. A woven towelling fabric as claimed in claim 1, wherein there are three parallel bands adjacent each margin, the band nearest the margin being composed of threads of the greatest tensile strength, the intermediate band of threads of slightly less tensile, strength, and the third or innermostband of threads of the least tensile strength.

4. A woven towelling fabric consisting oi warp and weft yarns, the warp yarns for a predetermined distance from the longitudinal edges of the fabric being of graduated tensile strength with the yarns of greater strength adjacent the respective edges, the end margins being provided with similar reinforcements in the weft.

5. A woven towelling fabric consisting of warp and weft yarns. the warp yarns for a predetermined distance from the longitudinal edges of the fabric being of graduated tensile strength 4 with the yarns of greater strength-adjacent the respective edges, the main body portion of the tcwelling fabric being of weaker threads and surrounded by bands of warp threads at its sides, and weft threads at its ends of greater tensile strength than the weaker main body threads and ,wherein the threads of both the warp and weft are of greater tensile strength adjacent the margins and gradually weaker toward the body of the fabric.

THOMAS SUMNER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

a STATES PATENTS British 1901 

